Automatic package banding or strapping machine



IN VEN TORS 1 l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIL A J BROWN ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Dec. 16, 1958 Filed June 30, 1950 I7? ven Tons 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 AfJ. BROWN ET AL 2,864,303

Dec. 16, 1958 AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING 0R STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 [I I 1 MW- s m M m K m Dec. E6, 1958 A, J. BROWN ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 15 Sheets -Sheet 4 Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL 2,864,303

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q NN IN VEN T 0R8 Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING 0 STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS HUN HH w EN Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 -rrr| INVENTORS 7:32:

Dc. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL 236 3 AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 WM NNN INVENTOR6 MWN UQN N mww Dec. 16 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL 2,86

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 30, 1950 Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING 0R STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 m I 2 m I r m m I h: m R m3 3N A w -u. M H r :L r a? Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE v l5 SheetsSheet ll IN VEN TORS 16, 1958 A, J; B OW gm 2,864,303-

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING 0R STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 15 Shegt-Sheet 12' a I I I llll/ llllll INVENTORS Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL 2,864,303

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 Ztbkum ASE 3 IN V EN TORS r-Fzoim amssza Dec. 16, 1958 A. J. BROWN ET AL 2,364,303

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING 0R STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June so, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 IN VEN TORS' .EWESQ QW$N fi .Ml

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AUTOMATIC PACKAGE BANDING OR STRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 &

INVENTORS M l r mm- #9 United Sta es Patent ice AUTOMATIC PACKAGE QR STRAPPING MACHINEv Arthur J. Brown, Bronx, N. Y.,' Charles F. sgood",Jr., Ridgewood, N. J., and William M. Grosvenor, In, New

York, N. Y., assignors to General Strapping Corporae tion, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 30, 1950, Serial No. 171,522

23 Claims. Cl. 100-27 This invention relates to an automatic package banding or strapping machine which is designed to wrap ametallic ribbon-like band around a package, tension the band, sever for United States patent filed by said John James Cheesman on October 29, 1946, under Serial Number 706,445,"

which issued as Patent No. 2,614,487 on October -21, 1952.

An object of the invention' is to prov'ide' novel means} for feeding the band from a source ofsupply to the'm a-- chine which automatically insures an adequate and proper supply for each banding operation regardless of the' size and/ or shape of the package being bound, and also avoids any condition tending to disturb the desired tension-under which the band is wrapped around'the package.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which" there is automatically. maintained a surplus or slackin the band intermediate its source of supply and the elements which are applying it to the package, and in which the maintenance of this surplus or slack, as well as its amount, is governed by the said excess or slack portion of the band itself which activates and deactivates'a' controlling device such, for instance, as an electric eye or a micro or limit switch. Another object is to. provide such a machine which embodies improved and ellicient mechanism for activating and determining the sequence of operation of the band applying, gripping, tensioning, severing and welding de-- vices to insure rapid, uniform and reliable functioning of the machine for its intended purpose; and to enable the machine to perform equally well when packages of the same or different sizes and shapes are presented seriatim to the machine for banding.

Another object is to provide such a machine which is well fitted for cooperation with package delivery and removing apparatus such, for instance, as traveling belts; whereby a line of packages may be delivered to the machine, banded by the machine, and removed therefrom in a continuous process and without substantial inter ruption.

Another object is to provide such a machine which embodies a single cam shaft that is driven intermittently for single revolutions of 360 degrees and in each such revolution, by means of cams fixed thereon, activates the operative functional results of the machine in proper sequence and for properly timed periods. I

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the said cam shaft carries a cam that activates and controls the feeding of the leading end of a band to the weld ing position and to a holding gripper, as well as the final tensioning of the band around the package; and whichalso carries additional cams for activating and controlling ,the QlQsing and opening of the grippers, the operation oljthe band severing cutter, and the operation of the welding 1 electrodes.

v of the machine or with the overlap of the previously Another object is to provide such a machine which includes novel and effective mechanism for activating and controlling the feeding and tensioning gripper during that portion of its operative cycle from the moment it releases its grip upon a band that is about to be welded to the moment when it grips the leading end of a succeeding band; in which portion of its cycle of operation the said gripper moves laterallyaway from the line along which the band is'fed tothe machine, rearwardly toward the source of band supply and parallel to said line of band feed, and then laterally back to said line.

Another object is to provide such a machinein which ative conditions including size and shape of package and thickness and composition of band.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the band severing device includes means for crimping the band at the time it is severed in order to provide a formation at the extremity of the leading end of the following band material to prevent it from interfering with any part formed band, and in which there is also meansfor slightly bending-the band at the overlap ofi end.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the band that accumulates on the ring is carried by supporting elements so closely spaced that the band is held in substantially circular form.

Another object is to provide certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the above named and other objects inherent in the apparatus may be effectively attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a broken front elevation of the maarrows;

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the plane of the line VI--VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the plane of the line VII-VII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 8 represents anenlarged detail section taken in the plane of theline VIIIVIII of Fig. 1,- looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the plane of the line IX-IX of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 represents an enlarged detail front elevation of the machine showing a box almost completely banded,

Patented Dec. 16, 1958 to accommodate the cut' Fig. 11 represents a similar view with the operating parts in the position following tensioning of the band; the auxiliary holding gripper having seized the end of the tensioned band to hold it tinder tension; the eutt rland" crimper being about to sever and crimp the band,:.andth. feeding and tensioning gripper having gripped; the leading portion of a succeeding band.

Fig. 12 represents a similar view, the cutter and erimpen having completed their operation and the; weldingqelev ments being in position to unite the overlapped-ends of the severed band. a

Fig. 13 represents a side elevation of the lower portion of the band after it has been welded;

Fig. 14 represents a detail plan view, partly insection V of the foot pedal and associated parts for controlling the clutch mechanism;

Fig. 15 represents a front elevation of the same, looking from right to left in Fig. 14;

a Fig. 16 represents a vertical section takenin the plane of the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 14, looking in the direc.- tion of the arrows, and also showing part of the motor drive;

Fig. 17 represents a detail section, partly in elevation, of the main drive and clutch mechanism; a

Fig. '18 represents a detail vertical section, partly in elevation and partly broken away, more completely show: ing the said drive and clutch mechanism withthe associated retractable band guiding finger;

Fig. 19 represents a top plan view, partly broken away, of the parts shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 represents an end elevation of the same, looking from. left to right. in Figs. 18 and 19, together with the motor, drive belt, and part of the package supporting casing top;

Fig. 21 represents a broken top plan view of the cam; shaft and band feeding and tensioningcam, with associ-. ated parts, which actuate the gripping, feeding tensioning, severing and welding elements, together villlt-xthe transformer. and welding electrodes;

Fig. 22 represents a detail end elevation, looking from left to right in Fig. 21, and showing the micro switch and its cam for initiating and controlling the welding period;

Fig. 23 represents a detail horizontal section, partly in elevation, of the band feeding and tensioning camand.

associated parts, with the elements in a position different from that shownin Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 represents a vertical section taken substantially in the plane of the line XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 23, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 25 represents a vertical section taken in the plane.

of the line XXV-XXV of Fig. 24, looking in the direc tion of the arrows;

Fig. 26 represents a layout of the band feeding and tensioning cam and its groove;

Fig. 27 represents a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken in the plane of the.line XXVl-'I;XXVII of Fig. 21, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 27a represents a detail horizontal seetion taken in the plane of the line XXVHa-XXVIIa of Fig. 27, looking in the direction of the arrows; I I

Fig. 27b represents a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 27a;

Fig. 28 represents a detail vertical section of.par t;of the elements shown in Fig. 27; l i

Fig. 29 represents a vertical section more clearly show.

ing certain parts which are partly hidden-in-Fig. 27; v i

Fig. 30 represents a broken detail plan view of therfirst hand holding gripper and its actuating mechanism,

Fig. 31 represents a vertical section taken; in the plane of the line XXXI-XXXI of Fig. 30, looking. in. the direction of the arrows; t

Fig. 32 represents a similar view with parts show-nin different positions; Fig. 33 represents a broken detail plan view of the aux- 4 iliary band holding gripper and band severing cutter with their actuating mechanism;

Fig. 34 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line XXXIV-XXXIV of Fig. 33, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 34a represents a detail elevation of a modified and preferredpform, of actuating rod for the auxiliary band 3 holding gripper;

Fig. 35 represents a .detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line XXXV-XXXV of Fig. 33, looking in the. direction of the arrows, and more clearly showing the band'fsevering cutterwith its actuating mechanism;

Fig. 36 represents a detail vertical section more clearly showing the mechanism for increasing the power of the auxiliary band holding gripper;

Fig. 37 represents a detail front elevation of the band feeding and tensioning gripper, with its actuating mechanism;

i Fig, 38 represents: a plan view of parts shown in Fig.

ig. 39 represents a side elevation thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 40 represents a detail vertical section more clearly showing certain of the parts disclosed in Fig. 39;

Fig. 41 represents a detail side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of Fig. 39, with the gripper and its immediately associated partsin positionsdifierent from i Fig. .39; 1

, Fig. 42 represents a detail side elevation, partly in section, of another; portionof Fig. 39, more clearly showing certain of the parts;

Fig-.43 represents a rear elevation of the parts shown in; Fig. 42, one element being partly broken away more clearly. to; disclose, those behind it;

Figs. 44 through 52 graphically. represent, with inscriptions, an illustrativeflsequence of operative effects as they occur during; one complete 360 degree revolution, of the c haf Fig. 53jrepresents a wiring-digram illustrating the machine controls.

As pointed out in the patent. and application hereinabove identified, this machine includes a ring which is driven in an anti-clockwise direction and wraps the band aroundarpackage positioned within the ring while the band at the same time accumulates on the ring. It will be clear that different lengthsof band are used in wrapping packages of different sizes and, as it is important that there shall neither be a shortage of nor too great an excess of band available for wrapping different sized packages as they are presented to the machine, and as it is likewise important that the band shall be,wr apped around, each package under substantially unifprnr tension, the machine of the present invention is provided with means for automatically insuring accomplishment ofthe-said important functions through controllipg-thesupply and feeding-of the band from a reel or; spool of band material.

Referring particularly. to Figs: lto 3 of the drawings, areclorspool of band material is denoted generally by 1 and isrnountcd for rotation in a frame 2, 2, which may be located adjacent the machine and substantially in linewith themechanism which wraps the band around thepackage. The frame 2; 2, carries four arms, indicated generally by 3, at each side of the reel to hold the latter against lateral displacement, and the axle 4 on which the reel is mounted is provided with a brake drum 5 that is embraced by a pair of brake shoes 6, 6, the lower ends of which are pivoted in a crossbar 7 that is fixed to the frame below the drum 5 while the upper ends of the shoes are connected by suitable linkage. denoted generally by 8, with a solenoid 9 that is subject to activation in the usual way for tightening and releasing the shoes with respect to the drum. As such brake construction is well understood by mechanics, further detailed description is regarded as unnecessary, but it may ated and released by the solenoid if preferred.

A pair of feed rolls 10, 11, are journaled one above the other in bearings formed in the sides of a box 12 that is mounted on a platform 13, or in any other appropriate manner, intermediate the reel frame 2, 2, and the machine; the lower roll being connected with means, denoted generally by 14, such, for instance, as a slide backed by an eccentric, for moving the roll upwardly and downwardly with respect to its mate a handle 15 .being provided for this purpose. The said rolls are fitted with intermeshing gears 16, 17, gear 16 being fixed to the shaft of a motor 18, with the intervention of a clutch mechanism 19 that is subject to clutching operation by a' solenoid 20 and de-clutching by a spring 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As this clutch mechanism is conventional, there is deemed to be no occasion further to describe it other than to say that activation of the solenoid 20 in the customary manner closes the clutch 19 and causes the gears 16, 17, to be driven by motor 18 for positively rotating feed rolls 10, 11, while the deactivation of the solenoid permits the spring 21 to open the clutch. It may here be mentioned that the electric circuits to solenoids 9 and 20 are so arranged that, when solenoid 20 is activated solenoid 9 is deactivated, and vice versa; whereby brake shoes 6, 6, release brake drum 5 when feed rolls 10, 11, are driven so as to permit rotation of reel 1, while with the stoppage of feed rolls 10, 11, through opening of clutch 19, the brake shoes seize drum 5 to stop rotation of'reel 1 and prevent overthrow of the metallic band from the reel. In other words, the electrical and mechanical linkages are so arranged that, when the feed rolls 10, 11, are actually driven, the reel 1 is not subjected to braking action so that it may rotate to supply the band and, vice versa, when the feed rolls are not driYen, a brake is applied to stop the rotation of the rec An idler guide roll 22 is journaled for free rotation in a pair of uprights 23, 23, that are fixed on the platform 13 so that the band, marked B, may be passed thereunder and given an upward lead to the bight between feed rolls 10 and 11, thereby causing the band to contact more of the surface of roll 11 and increase the drawing effect of the latter.

An elongated horizontally disposed suitably supported magazine 24 is positioned with one end communicating with an opening 25 formed in one side of box 12 and extends therefrom beneath the machine, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This magazine 24 and the box 12 with which it is associated may be composed of sheet metal or any other proper material. An idler band guide roll 26 is mounted at the top of the box 12 and near the edge of the latter which is toward the machine, and another guide roll 27 is fixed to the machine frame. The other end of magazine 24 traverses the casing of an electric eye unit, which is diagrammatically illustrated and marked 28. The casing of the electric eye is mounted on any suitable support (not shown) and the end of the magazine which traverses it is provided with an opening 29 so that the eye may be affected by the presence or absence of an object within the magazine. As such an electric eye unit is a well known device available to designers generally, there appears to be no occasion for illustrating or describing its structure; but it needs to be pointed out that the said eye is connected by appropriate electric circuits (not shown) with solenoids 9 and 20 so that, when the electric eye is activated, it will thereupon activate solenoid 20 and deactivate solenoid 9 and, when the electric eye is deactivated by the interpositioning of an object between its functional elements, solenoid 20 will be deactivated and solenoid 9 activated. I

When preparing to put the machine in use, the band B is manually led from reel 1 underneath idler roll 22 and between driven rolls 10, 11, the latter being temporarily slightly depressed by handle 15 to permit a marked C in Fig. 1.

ready passage of the bandbetween said rolls. The band.

is then fed into a loop into magazine 24 for a distance terminating at some point between box 12 and electric" machine, as will be hereinafter described. When the electric current is turned on for the operation of the,

machine, solenoid 20 is activated by electric eye 28 because the band in magazine 24 is in approximately the position marked C and there is nothing to interrupt the beam of the eye. This activation of solenoid 20 closes clutch 19 and causes motor 18 to rotate feed rolls 10, 11, so that the band is fed into the magazine 24 by the said rolls. It will be understood that, at this time, brake shoes 6, 6, are not restraining drum 5 because, as previously mentioned, solenoid 9 is deactivated when solenoid 29 is activated. Thus the operation of feed rolls 10, 11, will continue to feed the band into the magazine 24 until it reaches the position substantially as shown in full lines and marked D, at which point the band will interrupt the beam of the electric eye 28, whereupon the solenoid 20 will be deactivated, the clutch 19 opened and the feed rolls 10, 11, stopped. As the machine is now set in operation, it will draw band from the magazine, and as soon as enough of the latter has been withdrawn to clear the beam of the electric eye, the feed rolls 10, 11, will be again actuated as hereinabove described, so that the band will befed'into the magazine by the said rolls as it is being withdrawn by the machine to be wound around a package. The arrangementis such that the machine draws the band from the magazine I at the same rate or a little faster than it is fed into the magazine by the rolls 1t), 11, but there is such an excess or surplus of band in the magazine that it is never all consumed in the binding of a package and there is sel dom, if ever, less band in the magazine than the amount represented by the dotted line marked C. It will be understood that, at the completion of each banding operation, the feed rolls 10, 11, continue rotating until suf ficient additional band has been fed into the magazine to reach the position marked D, or substantially that position, and interrupt the beam of the electric eye with the effect of deactivating solenoid 20 and stopping rolls 10, 11; at which moment also solenoid 9 is activatedto brake reel 1 and prevent overfeeding or overthrow of the band from the reel. Thus it will be clear that the absence of the band from the end of the magazine at which the electric eye is located will start the feed rolls and release the reel and, vice versa, the presence of the band at that end of the magazine will stop the feed rolls a switch could be substituted for contact with the band,

the arrangement being suchthat release of pressure by the band on the finger or lever will start the feed rolls and release the reel, while exertion of pressure on the finger or lever by the band will stop the feed rolls and brake the reel. This effect can be obtained by any ap propriate combination of solenoids, springs, brakes and clutches, and calls for no further description in view er what has already been set forth. A stop E, consisting of a horizontally disposed rod, is positioned near. the right hand end (Fig. 3) of magazine 24, which serves the purpose of preventing the loop of band from entering into and catching upon the edges of opening 25 with the possibility of resultant injury.

Turning now to Figs. 1, 4 and 6 through 9, the machine includes a main, substantially'cubical, casing which is denoted generally by 30 and is preferably composed of steel or iron. The casing has front feet 31, 31, and rear feet of which one is shown and marked 32.

To the front of the casing 30 is secured an annular frame 33, also preferably composed of steel or iron, which has an integral web'34 extending downwardly 7 from the sides and bottom thereof, the lower edge of the said web being supported upon shoulders formed .at the tops of feet 31, 31, as indicated at 35 in 'Fig. 4. 'The web is also fastened to the front of the casing 30 by bolts or the like (not shown) and is additionally secured in position by angle members which are bolted .to the rear of the web at each side of the casing 30 and also to the casing itself, one of the said angle members'being shown in Fig. 4 andmarked 36; whereby the mounting of the annular frame 33 upon casing 30 is very rigid.

The frame 33 is substantially L-shape in cross section, as is well shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, with the longer dimension of its cross section extending in a radial direction, and the shorter dimension, corresponding to the foot of an L, extending axially toward the front of the machine .and constituting a circular flange marked 37. The saidlfiange is rabbeted to receive the outer circumference of an annular plate 38 which is fastened thereto by a series of screws, two of which are marked 39 in Fig. l.

Interposed between frame'33 and plate 38 is a series of bearing rollers 40, each of which is mounted by ball bearings 41 on a screw stud 42 that is set in frame 33, a suitable number of the studs being fitted with eccentric sleeves 43 for adjustment purposes. The bearing rollers 40 are rt-shape in cross section so as to adapt them to receive the inner circumferential toothed flange 44 of a ring gear 45, which is also formed with laterally projecting flanges 46, 46, that rest upon the peripheries of the rollers 40, whereby the ring gear may be rotated with the said rollers serving as its bearings.

The ring gear 45 carries a series of regularly spaced band receiving roll and guide units, each of which includes a roll 47, an inner guide 48, and an outer guide 49. The unit is fastened toithe ring gear by a bolt 50 and is spaced therefrom by a collar 51. The roll 47 is mounted by ball bearings 52 on an enlargement 53 of the bolt, and the inner guide is positioned between .the said bearing-and the collar 51. Another spacing collar 54 is interposed between the said bearing and one of a pair of clamping nuts 55, 55, which grip the outer guide and secure the parts together. The inner .faces of the guides are provided with wear plates 56, 56, preferably composed of hardened steel, which are fixed thereto by screws, and added rigidity is imparted to the unit by the fact that the collar 51 is jammed against a peripheral T-flange 57 formed on the outer circumference of the ring gear 45. These roll and guide units are preferably spaced so closely together that the band, when wrapped around them, takes a substantially circular rather than a polygonal form. A permanent keeper is provided to prevent the free end of the band from flapping when the machine is not being fed, and takes the form of an arcuate piece 58 (Figs. 1 and 9) which is positioned between the plates 56, 56, and has its ends fixed to flange 37 as shown at 58a, 58a.

The ring gear 45 also carries a pair of band tension roller 59, 60, each of which is mounted on a plain double bearing 61 (Figv 6) that surrounds a T bolt 62, the head of which is received for slidable adjustment in an undercut groove formed in a block 63 which is fastened by a suitable number of screw bolts 64 to the ring gear. A nut 65 and washer 66 on each T bolt serve to fix its roller in place between a fiange on the inner member of double bearing 61 and the washer.

Ring gear 45 is rotated by a main drive pinion 67 (Fig. 4) which is keyed or otherwise secured on a shaft .68 (see Figs. l8, l9 and 20) that is mounted by ball bearings 69, 70, and face plate 71 in a bearing box denoted generally by 72 which is supported within the casing 30 of the machine and receives a portion of the cam shaft 73 that carries the various activating cams and gears. The pinion 67 may be connected and disconnected with and from a spur gear .74, that is loosely mounted on shaft 68, by friction clutch mechanism 75 likewise carried on'said shaft; and the said gear 74 is in mesh with-another gear76, which is keyed or otherwise fixed to a worm-shaft 77 whichis mounted by ball bearings 78, 79, and thrust bearing'80 in the bearing box 72.

One end -of shaft 77 projects outwardly from-box 72 toward the rear in casing.30 andhas suitably fixed thereto a belt pulley '81 which is connected by a belt 82 with the drive pu1ley"83 of an electric motor 84 that is fixed to the bottom ofacasing 30 by screw bolts two of which are shown and are marked'85j85.

From the foregoing .it will be seen that, when motor 84 is started and clutch'75 is closed, ring gear 45 will be rotated by pinion 67 which meshes with the teeth on the periphery of the ring gear, as is well shown in Fig. 4. The clutch 7.5 is operated by a bellcrank lever which is fixed on a shaft 86 that is supported in the walls of bearingbox72 and has one arm 87extending to the said clutch .-and another arm 88 (Fig. 17) secured to a pull chain.89.that,passes .over a sprocket 90 mounted at the stop rear of box 72 and extends downwardly to a lug 9.1 ,(Fig. 16) which ispinnedto a rod 92 that is slidably mounted .in a sleeve .93 carried by an apertured plate 94 bolted to the rear wallof casing 30 in register with an opening 95 formed therein. The rod 92 also traverses a treadle .96 which is pivoted at 97 to a lug that is fixed to an edge of ,the base of motor 84; and an expansion spring .98 is confined between the underside of treadle96 and a nut 99 which isthreaded on the lower end of .rod .92 to cushion the action of the treadle when it is-depressed and .to'maintain the latternormally in a substantially horizontal position. An oil duct 1043 serves .to lubricate rod 92. Chain89 is connected to lug 91 byapin 101 that .is-slidable in the lug and has a pair ofnuts 102threadedon,its lower end, so thatadownward motion of-rod 92 :willcause lug 9140- contact nuts 102 and impart similar motion to pin 101 with a pull upon chain .89. A collar 103.is pinned to rod-92 intermediate sleeve 93 and treadle 96 -to limit the upward movement of the rod, and it will beunderstood that the connection of the rod .to pull chain 89 normally restrains downward movement of the 'rod. An adjustable screw stop 104 that isthreaded into the lower portion of plate 94 positively limits the downward travel of the treadle.

From the immediately foregoing description it will be clear that manual depression of treadle 96 will cause chain 89 to lift theouter end of arm 88 of the bell crank and cause the other arm 87 to close clutch 75 and fix gear 74 to shaft 68; whereas release of treadle 95 will allow but not cause opposite movement of the parts. The opposite movement is positively accomplished by a cam 105 that is fixed to rotate with shaft 73 and has a recess 106 in its periphery fitted to receive a roller 107 on the end of an arm 108 which is fixed to shaft 86. When arm 88 is lifted by chain 89 as above described to close friction clutch 7.5, roller-107 enters recess 106 but, as soon as shaft '73 starts to rotate, as will be hereinafter explained, cam 10S forces the roller out of the recess and opens clutch 75. Adjusting screws 109, 110, are provided for slightly varying the angularity of arm 108 with respect to shaft 86 to nicely control the closing and opening of the clutch.

A second pull chain 111 is also connected to rod 92 for actuation when treadle 96 is depressed, said chain passing around a sprocket 112, which is mounted along side of sprocket 90, and having its other end fastened at 113 to a projectable and retractable rod 114 which carries at its forward extremity a band guiding finger 115. The said rod is mounted in bearings 116, 117, formed on the top of box 72, bearing 117 having a slot 1.18 which slidably receives a pin 119 that extends laterally from the inner end of rod 114 to prevent rotary motion of the latter. An expansion spring 120 is compressed between bearing'117 and a collar 121 that is pinned to rod 114 for normally urging the rod to slide to the left in Figs. 18 and 19 and project its finger into the path of the band to be w'rapped around a package, as will be hereinafter set forth. It will thus be clear that depression of treadle 96 to close clutch 73 will simultaneously cause chain 111 to retract rod 114 and its finger 115 for a reason to be later explained.

The machine includes means for automatically discontinuing the drive of the ring gear 45 when it has completed one revolution and simultaneously starting rotation of the cam shaft 73, which means comprises a dog 122 that is suitably fixedto the back of the ring gear by screws 123 or the like (see Fig. and has a beveled nose 124 for cooperation with a beveled latch 125 which is slidably mounted in a block 126 that is secured by cap screws 127 to the annular frame 33. The rear end of latch 125 is connected at 128 to one arm 129 of a bell crank which is pivoted on a screw stud 130 that is set in frame 33 and has its other arm 131 connected to a chain 132 which passes around a sprocket 133 that has its hub mounted on a stud 134 which is set in a base 135 which is adjustably fixed by a screw and slot fastening 136, 137, to angle member 36 (see Fig. 4). An adjustable stop screw 138 serves to limit the movement of bell crank arm 129 under the pull of chain 132 to regulate the projection of latch 125 from its block 126. From sprocket 133 chain 132 leads through a hole 139 in the adjacent side of casing 30 to a sprocket 140 which is mounted on a screw stud 141 that is set in the upper part of bearing box 72 (see Fig. 18), and the chain is then fastened at 142 to the outer end of a trip latch 143 which is pivoted on a stud 144 that projects inwardly from a wall of box 72. The inner end of latch 143 is formed with a nose 145 fitted to cooperate with and normally urged by a spring 146 toward a shoulder 147 on the exterior of a single revolution clutch unit 148 that is mounted on and for driving engagement with the cam shaft 73, the adjacent end of which enters a cover plate 149 (see also Fig. 4) which is screw fastened to the outside of bearing box 72 and to which cover plate is screw fastened a cap 150 that conceals the end of shaft 73 and is provided with an oil gauge 151.

As the single revolution clutch unit is well known to mechanics in both structure and operation and can be obtained as a unit in the open market, it is deemed to call for no further description; but it should be pointed out that the driving means for cam shaft 73 consists of a worm 152 fixed on shaft 77, and a cooperating worm gear 153 which is loosely mounted on shaft 73 but fitted to be brought into driving relationship therewith by the single revolution clutch 148.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that manual depression of treadle 96 will cause ring gear 45 to rotate and that, when the ring gear has completed one revolution, the conatct of its dog 124 with latch 125 will trip clutch latch 143 and permit single revolution clutch 148 to cause rotation of cam shaft 73 which will be arrested at the end of one revolution by engagement of latch 143 with shoulder 147 under the influence of spring 146. Further, at the instant cam shaft 73 begins to rotate, cam 105 will cause arm 106 to swing bell crank arm 87 and open friction clutch 75 whereupon the rotation of ring gear 45 will cease. The depression of treadle 96 also momentarily withdraws rod 114 which carries finger 115 so that the latter will not interfere with the initiation of the step of wrapping the band around a package.

There is provided gripping mechanism for seizing the end of the incoming band, feeding it forwardly, and tensioning the band after it has been wrapped around a package. In each cycle of operation of the machine, i. e., in the banding or strapping of each package, the gripping element of this mechanism seizes and holds the band, moves forwardly along the line of band feed to tension the band around the package, opens slightly to release the band, moves laterally away from the line of hand feed, fully opens, moves rearwardly along a line parallel'tothe line" of band feed, moves laterally toward and to the line of band feed and closes for seizing the end of the nextband, moves forwardly slightly along the line of band feed to advance the free end of the band over the overlap of the previous band, and then moves further forward to feed band material into position for the overlap of the next band. This mechanism will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 37-43 and 23-26.

A head piece 154 is fixed, as by set screws 155, 155, on a slidable guide shaft 156 one end of which is supported in a bearing 157 carried by framework 158 positioned within the casing 30, while the other end is supported in a bearing 159 that is also carried by the framework. Rocking of the head on shaft 156 is prevented by a steady rod 160. which. traverses the head at 1 61, is mounted in the said framework at 162, 163, and is fixed against movement We set screw 164. The head piece is also traversed by an operating shaft one end of which is mounted for restricted sliding movement in the head piece-at 166, While the other end is slidably received in a bearing 167 formed in an upper corner of the framework 158 (Fig. 23). The end of shaft 165 within headpiece 154 is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 168 (Fig. 38) which abuts a cooperating shoulder 169 formed in the head piece so that movement of the shaft to the right in Fig. 37 will impart cor: responding motion to the head piece; and the extremity ofthe said end of the shaft is surrounded by an expansion coil spring 170 which is held against head piece 154 by adjustable nuts 171, 171, that are threaded on the shaft, so that movement of said shaft 165 to the left in Fig. 37 will impart corresponding, but yielding, motion to the head piece in order to tension the band with yielding, variable force.

Movement of shaft'165 is controlled by a drum cam 172 that is fixed on cam shaft 73 at the side of the machine which is distant from hearing box 72, the said portion of shaft 73 having a combined ball and thrust bearing 173, 173a in one end of framework 158 and a ball bearing 174 in a partition 175 therewithin. It should here be noted that the cam shaft 73 is in two parts which are united by a coupling 176 (Fig. 21) in order to insure proper operation even under conditions of slight misalignment and to facilitate assembly of the machine. Cam 172 has a groove 177 formed in its periphery which is fitted to receive, a roller 178 that is carried on one branch 179 of a bent arm which is pivoted at 180 on a mounting 1'81 fastened by cap screws 182 to the bottom of framework 158. The other branch 183 of the arm extends upwardly and is bifurcated, the bifurcations being provided with slightlyelongated apertures 184, 185, to receive the ends of a pin 186 which is set in a flattened portion 187 of shaft 165. As a result of this arrangement, rotation of cam 172 will slide shaft 165. to the right and left in alternation by swinging the bent arm on its pivot 180,

and the elongation of apertures 184, 185, will prevent cramping of the parts. This causes the head piece 154 to move forward and backward along the line of band feed, and the forward movement is capable of yielding by compression of spring 170 so that the force of this movement, which serves to tension the band around the package, can be varied by adjusting the nuts 171, 171, on shaft 165, thereby serving to vary the tension of the band on the package. These forward and backward movements of the head piece are step-by-step as is indicated by the layout of cam groove 177 in Fig. 26, and meet additional purposes, as will be later explained.

The head piece 154 is formed with a pair of side walls 188, 189 (Fig. 37), at its top to provide a channel 190 for receiving the band feeding and tensioning gripper and its actuating mechanism and permitting the same to be moved laterally away from and back to the line of band feed. The said band feeding and tensioning 

